Backlash against unpaid internships growing in Canada, called 'exploitation'

Toronto New Democrat MP behind crack down bill

Nicholas Smith is a 22-year-old Torontonian, working on his second unpaid internship after graduating from the University of Toronto last year with an ethics degree.

Working without pay for months, and sometimes years, after graduating triumphantly wasn't exactly what Smith and his friends had in mind when they toiled away along the path to what they believed was a bright future.

"I am working with people who've done their masters degrees, and definitely there's an emotional toll in having to work for free," said Smith, whose current unpaid internship is at a Toronto-based think-tank as a foreign policy analyst.

"I used to do marketing and there are a couple of marketing companies that are absolutely notorious, they have marketing graduates working 50-hour weeks and overtime without pay, and if you refuse to work the OT you don't get a reference," he said.

"And no one is picked up anyway at the end of the internships. It's just exploitation."

Unpaid internships are on the rise in Canada, with some organizations estimating there's as many as 300,000 people currently working for free at some of the country's biggest, and wealthiest, corporations.

The ranks of unpaid interns swelled in the aftermath of the 2008 economic recession, said Sean Geobey, a research associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the author of a recent report entitled The Young and the Jobless.

Geobey says Canadians are starting to sit up and take notice.

"This is not the sort of social contract that today's kids saw their parents and grandparents grow up under," he said.

"We're starting to see Canadians , young people and their parents in particular _ seriously question what exactly is going on here, and why are we apparently returning to 19th-century labour practices.''

Last fall, Vancouver's Fairmont Waterfront Hotel sparked an uproar after it posted an ad seeking people to bus tables for free.

"As a busperson you will take pride in the integral role you play in supporting your food and beverage colleagues and 'setting the stage' for a truly memorable meal." The ad was quickly taken down amid a social-media furor.

The United States is in the midst of a crackdown on unpaid internships by both state and federal authorities. In Canada, there's a growing backlash, with a rally held last week in Toronto urging the Ontario government to do something about "unpaid internship scams."

Federally, the NDP's Andrew Cash tabled a private member's bill last fall aimed at cracking down on what he calls "the Wild West" of illegal unpaid internships. He says what used to be entry-level positions paying minimum wage are now routinely morphing into unpaid internships.

"There's a hodgepodge of laws across the country and in some provinces there's simply no regulation at all," Cash said in a recent interview.

"And not only are we talking about young university graduates having to work for free, but also newcomers to the country who are desperate for Canadian work experience and are resorting to working without pay."

An official at the federal Labour Department says there are laws on the books to protect interns. Under the Canada Labour Code, a department inspector will investigate a federally regulated employer if a complaint is filed for unpaid wages, overtime and vacation pay.

"If it's determined an employer-employee relationship exists between interns and the employer, their rights will be protected as an employee," the official said in a recent email.

Nonetheless two academics working on a comprehensive study of unpaid internships in Canada scoff at those laws, pointing out that they require a young employee who's trying desperately to establish a career to rat out a possibly powerful corporation, and potential employer.

"There aren't enough people coming forward, because there's a huge disincentive to do that,'' said Isabelle Couture, a graduate student who's conducting a survey of unpaid interns with the Canadian Intern Association to determine the scope of the problem in Canada.

"To go against your employer, you're fearing being blacklisted. You want the experience and you want the reference and feel you have no other choice but to keep quiet."

Couture and her partner in the research, James Attfield, say that as they prepare to release their study next month, they've been stunned to learn that no federal or provincial agency is tracking unpaid internships.

"When you ask a lot of these companies, like Bell, which has a massive internship program, they make it sound like they're doing people a favour, that they're generously providing work and experience," says Attfield.

"But it's really nothing more than a way to save money; they're obviously not doing it out of generosity."

Bell Media is the parent company of Newstalk 1010.

A Bell spokeswoman says its internship program, which employs about 300 people a year, "offers learning opportunities in a real-world corporate setting. None of the participants' activities replace work by Bell employees or support our business operations."

But Attfield and Couture, who are both working toward master's degrees in public administration, point out that unpaid internships pose an array of social and economic problems.

They give the children of well-heeled parents an advantage over those with no one to support them if they want to compete with their peers for valuable CV references by working for free, they say.

They also contribute to youth unemployment rates, and prevent young Canadians from fully participating in Canada's economy.

"It's so short-sighted, because these companies are withholding pay from people who might be able to pay for their goods and services and to contribute economically to society," said Attfield.

"There's a cost to everyone as a result of these internships, to the employees who don't get paid, to their parents, to the economy, at absolutely no cost to the companies."

Geobey says it all represents a startling throwback to another era.

"This is what union organizers faced prior to the First World War. There's the threat of blacklisting, the threat that their skills are not going to be used because the employer will call them troublemakers for wanting to be paid for their work."

Smith, the 22-year-old intern, isn't quite as contemptuous, saying he's grateful for the experience he's currently getting from his unpaid internship.

"I can't say that I've got job prospects, but the networking opportunities have been really helpful."

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There are valid arguments for both sides. For an intern it's an opportunity to be in an environment where they can learn and demonstrate their abilities. They usually don't know enough to contribute sufficiently to earn a salary and companies often hire those showing promise.

On the flip side it can be abused by companies looking for free albeit lower capability work.

Three months unpaid internship with companies actively looking to hire would seem to be a fair compromise.

Those that complain it skews towards rich kids should move to a communist country to satisfy their political leanings.

Just reading the first paragraph, the guy graduated from university... with an ethics degree. And doesn't find work. Um.... duh?

This example, for me, completely encapsulates what is wrong. For whatever reason, kids are led to believe that they need to have a degree (usually a useless arts degree.. there's a reason why there are jokes out there about arts degrees and toilet paper), in order to land a good job.

Universities aren't failing kids. Universities are giving the kids exactly what they are paying for... university degrees. Where on that degree does it say that having that piece of paper guarantees you work, or even QUALIFIES you for work? It doesn't. That isn't the job of university degrees. Universities don't train you for jobs. That's what colleges are for. The purpose of universities is to provide you with programs in the arts and sciences for whatever purpose. Self betterment, interest in a subject, whatever. But not job training.

So, you have a degree in ethics.. and wonder where all the work is. You could pay a fraction of the tuition for university on your electrical certification, and start making close to a 6 figure income. But parents can't stand the shame of having a son or daughter as a blue collar worker. They'd much rather have their kid wearing a suit in a downtown office building, working on a free internship, or for low wages.

Employers are looking for specific skill sets when they hire for specific positions. University degrees don't give you that. You need specific training in whatever area you would like to work. Everything from accounting to plumbing.

Kids, don't let your parents railroad you into a useless arts degree. You'll be out a lot of money, and have no job at the end of it. Unless you're not looking for a job out of it, in which case go nuts. Chase your dreams, backpack across Europe, learn Swahili. But eventually you'll need to choose a career. And the odds are, you'll need specific training to get into that career that your university degree did not cover.

@Angry Bill
...not to mention universities don't help you find jobs either. The give you piles of pamphlets and magazines promoting networking. That doesn't help anybody.In my last year and a half, I visited the career centre every other day looking for a possible career, because of the gnawing fear in my stomach its going to be an uphill battle finding work after graduation. Surprise, surprise there...

My wife went to college and found a job (thanks to the college) with barely any effort.

And I do beg to differ about Universities failing kids- because they are.There were also a few times I asked my professors about finding a good job after finishing my degree (I was in a specialist program for media at U of T/Sheridan), and it was all smiles and thumbs up from them.

The work I do now is luckily based off of computer services and knowledge I trained myself when I was younger- and luckily I'm able to make a career out of that.There is virtually nothing I've learned from university (other than critiquing media which I apply on these forums) that I use in any real-world setting. And much of it is obsolete now. For example, during my time I learned how to create, use and apply Flash. Well guess what? No one uses that anymore- and it's a rapidly dying trend. Because everyone is moving over to HTML5- a subject that wasn't even around when I was in school.

Even with proper research, kids don't know better, and the parents who've never went post-secondary don't know better either. I'm sorry to say it, but its a more of a money-making scheme all around, than the worst scammers you'd find online.

@Karl Burgin
Regarding universities failing our kids. I still maintain, not really. Because they're offering what they always offer. If someone else wants to convince themselves that universities owe them a job after graduating, that's not the universities' fault.

So if you pay for a program, then go up to the prof and say, "So, I can get a job after this, right?" The prof will say, "Uh, yeah. Sure."

But the fact remains, universities are not in the business of getting you a job. Or even training you for one. That's not what they do, nor has it ever been what they do. And people who go to universities thinking that that's what they need to do in order to get a job, well, that's their fault. Of course the universities aren't going to turn down the money you're throwing at them.

@Angry Bill
So what's the point of Universities then?If they aren't the path for a better education, in order to succeed in life, then why are they allowed into schools and marketed as such?Why is it that some jobs require it?Why is the U.S. schooling program so much better?Why is it that a bunch of people are skipping the Canadian job market, and heading to the U.S.? And then Canadians have the gall to complain about the "brain drain"?

University even up to 16 years ago, seemed to hold better promise than what is offered today. I also had a bunch of friends/cousins that went to the U.S, the U.K., Europe and Aurstralia. 99% went to Unversity, and within a year, were on the path to successful careers. Or on the flip-side, I've had a bunch of friends that went to college here, and they found jobs faster than their university counter-parts.

It is a big deal BILL, because you cannot take regular courses in high-school in order to apply for University. You have to struggle and take advanced courses. And if the struggling is too much, then there's the expensive tutors, and extra help.

Unfortunately, the common belief all around is that University is the way to go, to get a better career, and hence a successful life. This is the mantra in media and all around. Parents/grand-parents believe it, and that's why they push kids ( that seem to have the forthwith) into such institutions. Teachers and counselors believe it- that's why they meet with kids early-to-midway through their high-school life, to push them in the direction that they are capable of.

Universities have a responsibility in either working with the colleges to help guide their golden geese (er...i mean students) into jobs that reflect their study. Even if its not as grand, a good start is all that's needed. Or if not work with the colleges (because Universities believe they are FAR superior than college- believe me I've had the argument with U of T registrars staff), then develop your own program that would help students find work.

If educational institutions in other parts of the world have a better career output than what we find in Canada, then there is something SERIOUSLY wrong with that picture...

And yes, I'm only just a teen bit bitter over the whole experience. I should have joined the Argos when I was asked when I had the chance...

@Karl Burgin
That was my point, from all my posts here. That is not the point of universities, and it never was. My point remains that if you want to be prepared for a JOB, then university is not the route to take.

The point of university? It's to teach you to think critically. A useful trait to have in most jobs, but it certainly doesn't train you for that job. If you want to be trained specifically on how to do a job, then there are college courses, or certifications, or even apprenticeships. Bear in mind, though, that none of those will teach you to "think critically". They give you the material, you learn it, regurgitate it, write the certification, and bam.. you're an electrician. But if you want to learn about the mathematics behind electrons, about particles at the quantum level and how they behave, about advancements in science that could lead to new technology in a few years (like quantum computing), then you go to university. Critical thinking? Yes. Training for job? No.

@Angry Bill
University training you to thinking critically is especially true- I will agree with you on that.But kids in general, or parents/kids of parents that have never been through the university experience wouldn't know that university isn't the place to eventually find a job. It's almost as though you would be telling them that the world is round, and there are continents on the other side. That is how oblivious 85% (i would think) of those enrolling are. I know me and my family were among them.Going to University to eventually land a career is something expected.

If university were geared toward the middle-aged, or those who would like to improve their career, I'm all for it. Because most at that stage of their life would have the life experience to make a better judgement call about the situation. Not to mention have some financial backing to fund the education.

But when you push university on those that especially don't know better, and have the wrong expectations at the end of it all- that is wrong. I know now that university was the wrong choice- but back when I was preparing for university by taking the appropriate advanced courses starting in grade 10, I didn't know any better. How was I supposed to?My parents didn't know any better either. They are from the West Indies. In my home country university is free. Or the other option was to go to London, England for exams. There are also other parents that didn't go beyond high-school or maybe college. And most parents want their kids to surpass themselves and do better. So what's the message being pushed onto kids- that university is the way to go. Why are they pushing it on their kids- because they've been fed the same belief.

Your point about university may be correct- but the message simply isn't getting across to most people. And while that message is lost in the ether, the universities, the banks and the government student loans are rubbing their greedily little hands with glee.

I'm going to bring up another point BILL, that kind of goes of course, but speaks to the same concept.When you proposed to your wife, did you get her a diamond ring? I know I did- and so did 95% of husbands. Why? Most believe that it was the way to go, and that it should cost 2-3 months pay.Did you know (and I just found out about this last week), that's it all a marketing scam from 50 years ago by deBoers diamonds- all to make money. The diamonds themselves aren't worth a whole lot, but the prices are jacked up anyway, and its marketed as being the customary thing to do when one is proposing or getting married. And a lot of people that called in on this topic, didn't know that fact either. But many, if they had to do it all over again with knowledge in hand, they would still by the diamond for $10K.

This is to illustrate the fact that the hype about university is roughly along the same lines.But here's the kicker BILL. deBoers is a private company- it is their mandate to make as much profit from their products. Even if the method is sneaky and untruthful, they have achieved what they needed to in order to survive all these years.The universities are reaping the benefits off the livelihood of the youths and students. They are robbing them of their future by yanking any present/future earnings. The banks and OSAP are guilty of the same. And when you have students that are straddled with such a burden, you begin to hear stories of students living with their parents past 30. If they can't find a job worthy of the degree worked for, it will be wasted time and effort scraping a living as a cook at KFC.

The above examples I speak of is a current reality for many I know. All because the universities got students at a time when they are young and naive- and don't know any better. They were tendered towards viewing universities through a pair of rose-colored glasses- instead of taking them off, and seeing those leeches for what they really are.

From someone who is especially close to this, I feel for the guy with the ethics degree. And the people actually at fault here are the high-school counsellors, and the ones on campus marketing their brand.

In short, I would never send my kid to university, unless they were actually serious about it, and had a game-plan. The more realistic oath to take would either be college education with an internship/placement- or go for a certification (Mircosoft, Cisco, Plumbing, Carpentry...). Heck, pick your choice, but any certification would be more worthwhile, less of a heart-ache at the end of it all, and the job search wouldn't be such a struggle.

A degree, you can always revisit once you have the money, and your life is stable. To dump all your money into a tuition for 5 years, and then TRY to work, to pay it all off before you see the benefits, is doing things ass-backwards. And the only ones reaping the rewards off the students, are the likes of OSAP, the banks with their loans and the university.The university would've gotten paid up front- so they got their money. The banks will offer you loans, or a line of credit- and get their money back on interests off the loan.And OSAP is the worst offender of all. They will hound students for YEARS. The interest rates are ridiculous- and not even bankruptcy will get rid of them.

You want to see this problem go away? Stop marketing to high-school kids who are about to graduate, pipe dreams of going to and succeeding in university. Those kids have very little real-life experience to help gauge their judgement. And parents are also bamboozled because not many have the experience of going through the experience.It's all a viscious cycle- of which Mr. McGuinty was supposed to step in and help fix. Oh, I forgot. He was too busy paying off companies billions of dollars to save his skin.UGH!!!!!!!

@Karl Burgin
Here's where a university education is beneficial for most kids. 5 or 10 years after you are in a job, and you want to be considered for management. They will see you have a degree, and would be willing to proceed with you over another management candidate who doesn't have a degree. That's about it.

Otherwise, universities are for those who want to spend the rest of their lives in academia because they can't handle the real world, and all their years of schooling has only taught them to remain in school.

Or you want to work at another institute where a degree in astrophysics and advanced mathematics is required. Those sorts of things. But be prepared for some stiff competition to get into those sorts of places.. Very few of those spots are available, and are sought after by every other kid who has spent the last several years in school getting their B.Sc., then Masters, then Ph.D. They keep going back to school for more degrees, because there's nothing in the outside world they can do.

I have a B.Sc. However, I didn't go to a "traditional" university for their computer science program. I went to DeVry, which was a private technical institute. Yes, they covered all the subjects typically covered in B.Sc. programs, but their focus was on business and technology, and not so much the theoretical. So it was more like a college in that respect. And even then, it was difficult finding work afterwards, though they did work for 6 months after graduation to find interviews for you. Varying degrees of success from that, though.

Bottom line, I would do a lot of things a lot differently if I could go back and do everything all over again knowing what I know now. I'd save tens of thousands of dollars, that's for sure.

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